stick insects in the wild in the UK help needed

[PuBS]

Do they taste like twiglets?
Sorry,couldnt resist it- but we also have several species of terrapin living feral in the UK, did these insects exist in the wild or are they accidental or deliberate releases?

[brian laney]

Dear PuBs,
Sorry I have not replied sooner. Regarding your question the stick insects that occur in the South West of the UK are accidental introductions. A number of species reached the Isles of Scilly when Tresco Abbey Gardens was set up while a nursery at Truro in Cornwall in the 1920's imported plants from New Zealand. A number of these species hitched a ride as eggs on these plant importations.
A recent updated article from Malcolm Lee the National Recorder for these interesting group of insects mentions there are now 8 species established here in the UK. One of these is the Indian Stick Insect that everyone kept at school or as a child on privet. Males of this species are rare in captivity. They are all females people have here in the UK. Amazingly a male of this species was found on St Marys in the Isles of Scilly. I myself have never seen a male of this species in captivity.
Do sticks insects taste like twiglets. No never tried but a bird would make a meal of them if it could locate them.

Brian Laney Northamptonshire.

[badgerjan]

Thanks for this info, and the link, this is interesting, I live in the South West, so will certainly be on the lookout.

[brian laney]

Good luck BadgerJan,
I hope you have some success.

Brian Laney Northamptonshire.

[brian laney]

Dear All,
Amazingly an adult Unarmed Stick insect was reported to me via my brother crawling up a tyre of a parked car in Falmouth back in Feb, so it shows it must have found somewhere to escape the cold winter weather conditions, probably deep in vegetation.
By looking at Malcolm Lees reports the eggs of the stick insects we have in the wild should have hatched by now but if any of you plan to look for these insects I would advise to wait till later in the year such as August onwards, especially as I am sure some of you will be hoildaying in the South West this year.
Good luck if any of you find any and as mentioned before Malcolm Lee is always very interested in your sightings and observations.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[brian laney]

Just recently recieved a record of Prickly stick insect from South Devon via Matt Shardlow at Buglife. So from now onwards it is worth keeping a look out for these interesting group of insects especially in the South West.

[brian laney]

Dear All,
I have just come across an attachment including information on the naturalised stick insects on the Phasmid Study Group website at phasmid-study-group.org/.../Naturalised-British-Stick-Insects-Malcolm-Lee -
It has a few of the major species we have established in the UK as well as comments from people who have come across them but also where records and sightings can be sent.
I must say many thanks to those of you who have sent in your records and sightings.